Insight Turkey / issues

Editor's Note | Spring 2016

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 13:39:00 GMT

The Syrian Crisis, the bloodiest front of the Arab uprisings and one of the main determinants of policies of regional and global powers, has been dominating international politics for the last five years. Having caused the death of more than 300 thousand civilians and forced relocation of more than 7 million Syrians, it is one of the direst international problems that the global powers must deal with.

The Mayhem in Syria: Where to?

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 10:33:00 GMT

What started as a peaceful protest in the spring of 2011 soon developed into one of the most vicious and internationalized conflicts of modern times. The Syrian people’s quest for freedom has proven to be so costly that nearly an entire population is today homeless and entire cities are in total ruin. No longer localized, this conflict has attracted the intervention of groups and countries from across the region and around the world. Yet, the Syrian people seem no less resolved to pursue the objectives for which they rose 5 years ago.

Geopolitical Realignments around Syria: Threats and Opportunities

Sun, 10 Apr 2016 11:00:00 GMT

The Syrian uprising took the regional powers by surprise and was able to disrupt the regional balance of power to such an extent that the Syrian file has become a more internationalized matter than a regional one. Syria has become a fluid scene with multiple spheres of influence by countries, extremist groups, and non-state actors. The long-term goal of re-establishing peace and stability can be achieved by taking strategic steps in empowering local administration councils to gain legitimacy and provide public services including security.

The Syrian Political Opposition: What Went Wrong?

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 11:13:00 GMT

The uprising against the decades-long Assad rule in Syria started as a series of peaceful demonstrations; however, the brutal crackdown of the Assad regime transformed the uprising into an armed rebellion. The opposition has been characterized by disunity, power struggles, and lack of direction, while half-hearted international backers with conflicting agendas have deepened the divides within the opposition, directly or indirectly empowering the Assad regime. Three main shortcomings have hindered the political opposition from creating a meaningful bloc which could independently advocate for the rights of the Syrian people and enjoy widespread legitimacy at home and abroad: representation deficit, dependency on outside actors, and the irrelevance of the political track.

The Multiple Faces of Jabhat al-Nusra/Jabhat Fath al-Sham in Syria’s Civil War

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 11:28:00 GMT

Jabhat al-Nusra has long been one of the most militarily effective armed actors against the Syrian Ba’thist regime and it continues to play a central role in the country’s civil war. With a leadership that mixes the transnational jihadi ideology of al-Qaeda with Syria-specific interests, the group is also at the forefront of battling the Islamic State in Syria. In the midst of its battlefield offensives, Jabhat al-Nusra is also busy building governing structures to control territory in different parts of the country including Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, and Aleppo governorates.

Post-Nuclear Deal Iran: Back to the Fold of Imperialism?

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 11:37:00 GMT

Khomeini, the leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, sought to chart out an independent course for Iran in regional and global affairs: ‘neither East, nor West, the Islamic Republic.’ Khomeini’s successors have often attempted to compromise with the West by undertaking economic reforms aimed at reintegrating Iran into the imperialistic capitalist world economy. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed in mid-July 2015, brings Iran new opportunities but it also greatly compromises the ideological, philosophical and economic foundations of Khomeini’s Islamic Republic. After four decades of anti-imperialist struggle, Iran has now largely come back to the fold of imperialism.

What the ISIS Crisis Means for the Future of the Middle East

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 11:52:00 GMT

Despite all the intellectual energy devoted to understanding “what ISIS really is,” the group remains unpredictable and inexplicable for two main reasons. First, the existing frameworks are not appropriate for a holistic assessment of the organization, prompting analysts to mistake ISIS’ tactics or propaganda for its political objectives. Second, an almost exclusive emphasis on ISIS per se distracts from the symbiotic and complex relationship between ISIS and the bigger regional crisis. This article draws attention to three interrelated dynamics. First, ISIS is best seen as a “process,” not as a static “thing” that can be easily identified. Second, ISIS’ successes and failures cannot be divorced from the multi-dimensional crisis in the region. Third, it is necessary to consider the groups’ impacts on the greater Middle East with respect to two interrelated dimensions: sectarian tensions and existing ethnic relations.

The Uncertain Role of the EU Countries in the Syrian Refugee Crisis

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 12:15:00 GMT

This article analyses the EU’s response to the Syrian refugee crisis, both inside the EU and in the Syria’s neighboring countries. It first focuses on the background of the common asylum policy of the EU and major challenges posed by the refugee crisis to the common EU refugee policy. The article then focuses on an analysis of the impact of the refugee crisis on the EU, the failures of the EU to adopt a common approach towards the refugees from Syria, and the EU initiatives. As the Syrian refugees/asylum applicants constitute a large part of the asylum applicants/refugees in the EU and because the core documents do not differentiate among the refugees based on their nationality, we will simplify the EU position towards the refugees by assuming that it holds true for the Syrian refugees specifically. Should there be a special condition applied to Syrian refugees only, this will be explicitly mentioned.

The Role of the Military in Syrian Politics and the 2011 Uprising

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 12:36:00 GMT

In this research I examine the effect of the military on Syrian politics and the uprising of 2011. I consider the military’s will to protect the Assad regime in the context of the “army-party symbiosis” that has been composed in the historical process. I rename this symbiosis as a power bloc because of Assad’s designation of the military to be used not only against external threats but also to protect his regime against the Syrian opposition. The political and economic reforms implemented by Bashar Al-Assad did not affect this power structure, which is the source of the military’s will to suppress the uprisings of 2011. The armed organizations which emerged during the civil war, whether they are named as terror organizations or not, will be a challenging factor not only in the resolution of the Syrian crisis but also for the reorganization of the Syrian army.

Freedom and Democratization: Turkey’s Need for a Paradigm Shift in the Media Freedom Debate

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 13:05:00 GMT

When considering the problems of media freedom in Turkey, two types of pressures come to the fore: (1) the first-hand and tangible pressures exerted on the media by the civilian and military powers, and (2) the indirect and intangible pressures caused by the ideological circles encapsulating the civilian and military powers. Looking at the history of media in Turkey, it becomes apparent that it is not the political institution that is the main factor limiting media freedom, but rather the official ideology surrounding the political institution. In this context, it is necessary to consider the issue of freedom of media in Turkey through the perspective of the democratization of both the country and its media sector. This study will discuss freedom of media in Turkey and the relation between media and politics by focusing on the democratization of the sector, without excluding the perspective that the media should be distant from the pressures of the civil and military centers who hold the administration in their hands.

Gezi Park Protests as a Litmus Test for Mainstream Western Media

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 13:59:00 GMT

This article focuses on the coverage of Gezi Park protests in the mainstream western media. It analyzes the details of the incidents and argues that the Gezi Park protests became a negative turning point in the already worsening quality of foreign media coverage of Turkey and AK Party. It argues that the basic codes of media ethics have been frequently violated, while Erdoğan-phobia became an almost unquestionable rule for the mainstream western media in the post-Gezi era.

Reinvention of Turkish Foreign Policy in Latin America: The Cuba Case

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 14:25:00 GMT

The current research has the purpose of analyzing Turkey’s approach toward Latin America and the Caribbean region through the prism of soft power theory, and through a specific case study, i.e. Turkey-Cuba relations. The working assumption is that Turkey has been able to increase its presence and influence in the region, thanks to a particular soft power-oriented approach known as multi-dimensional policy, which reflects both new behavior and new agents. An analysis of Turkey-Cuba relations will not only help to improve the literature about Turkey’s foreign policy on a subject which has not yet been adequately examined, but will also underline features and peculiarities of Turkey’s soft power, such as the emerging “Mosque Diplomacy.”.

Towards a Truly Global IR Theory?: The Middle East and the Upcoming Debate

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 16:44:00 GMT

In 2015, the philosopher Hamid Dabashi published a book with the provocative title, Can Non-Europeans Think?. Over its pages Dabashi echoes authors from what have been labelled “post-colonialism” approaches (from founding fathers like Frantz Fanon to Edward Said, to provocative interlocutors like Gayatri Spivak and Walter Mignolo), and questions the contemporary “regime of knowledge.” According to Dabashi, this by-product of modernity/colonialism silences the voices and experiences of many “subaltern” thinkers whose work is dismissed, neglected and delegitimized.

A Land of Aching Hearts: The Middle East in the Great War

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 13:12:00 GMT

The First World War (WWI) was the biggest war that the world had ever seen, at least until the beginning of the 20th century, due to the large number of people and countries embroiled in the conflict, the extent of the territories involved, and the wide usage of technology for the first time.

State, Faith, and Nation in Ottoman and Post-Ottoman Lands

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 13:22:00 GMT

In State, Faith, and Nation in Ottoman and Post-Ottoman Lands, Frederick F. Anscombe frames his narrative around the themes of “state, faith, and nation,” concerning which the dominant scholarly narratives about the history of Ottoman and Post-Ottoman lands are wavering.

Among the Ruins: Syria Past and Present

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 13:27:00 GMT

It would be understandable, after four years of devastating civil war, to assume the title of Christian C. Sahner’s book, Among the Ruins refers solely to the forlorn, rubble-strewn landscapes that are reported daily from Syria’s once bustling cities.

The Human Security Agenda: How Middle Power Leadership Defied U.S. Hegemony

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 13:31:00 GMT

There is no doubt that the 1990s were the years when the concept of human security came into popularity not only within scholarly circles but also political ones. Since then, a large body of literature has been accumulated dealing with the topic of human security in terms of its theoretical and practical dimensions.

Perspectives on Turkey’s Multi-Regional Role in the 21st Century

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 13:36:00 GMT

A cursory look at the map of Turkey brings home the appropriateness of the title under review. Sitting astride the Bosporus Straits that connect the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, the country is situated in several overlapping regions: East Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, Caucasus, Central Asian, Black Sea and West Asia. Turkey has been a staunch ally of the United States and a loyal member of NATO since 1953.

Sarajevo, 1941-1945: Muslims, Christians and Jews in Hitler’s Europe

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 16:11:00 GMT

Emily Greble’s Sarajevo, 1942-1945: Muslims, Christians and Jews in Hitler’s Europe is an elaborately detailed portrayal of Sarajevans’ wartime experience.

Freedom of Speech and Islam

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 16:22:00 GMT

There have been many debates about whether Islam and democracy are compatible. Freedom of speech issues, and debates about the nature of Islam abound in recent times. The cartoon crises of recent years, the Charlie Hebdo attack and other developments have led to a widening of the debate.

Islam and the Future of Tolerance: A Dialogue

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 16:30:00 GMT

An avowed atheist, Sam Harris, and Nawaz Maajid, former extremist, and founder of the organization Quilliam come together to take stock of Islam and a range of ancillary issues in Islam and the Future of Tolerance: A Dialogue. The book is comprised of exchanges about Islamism, Muslim tribalism, interpretive latitude in the case of scriptures, and the need for secularism in the Muslim world.

Development in an Era of Neoliberal Globalization

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 16:36:00 GMT

The capitalist development process has been criticized by many scholars due to its questionable effects on countries. After the privileging of neoliberal principles in Western national economies from the 1970s onward, discussions on the legitimacy of capitalism have increasingly continued.

Terrorism in Cyberspace: The Next Generation

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 16:40:00 GMT

Recently, there has been a growing body of literature on the multifaceted relationship between terrorism and cyberspace in different contexts. Terrorism in Cyberspace, which emerged out of about 15-years observation of about 10,000 terrorist websites, in addition to innumerable social media platforms, focuses on the past, present and future of terrorism in cyberspace.